Just like most things in life, there are two type of Nokia fans. Those that live and breathe Windows Phone handsets, and those that are still holding out for the company to release an Android smartphone.
Yes, even after the purchase by Microsoft, even after the Finnish company’s sheer dominance of the Windows Phone ecosystem. And the way things are going, the latter type may just find their wish coming true. A technology fairy tale? You bet.
The fact that Nokia is working on its first Android handset is no secret.
Recent reports, however, suggested that Nokia may have put the project to sleep. But newer rumors claim that the Nokia Normandy project is going full steam ahead and interestingly Microsoft is on board with the launch of a Nokia branded Android device.
Serial leaker of information evleaks recently declared that things are heating up. And other rumors from around the web imply that such a handset is headed for an official unveil next month at the Mobile World Congress (MWC 2014) in Barcelona.
Now before everyone gets too excited, the most crucial element in the whole story is that this device runs a forked version of Android that Nokia has developed for use with Normandy.
It looks similar to the Asha operating system, but does without Google Play Store and other such Google services. Instead, Nokia plans to develop its own app store from the grounds up to house apps for this budget handset. Similar to what Amazon has done for its Kindle Fire line of tablets.
What remains to be seen is whether Normandy becomes popular in emerging markets. If so, we can expect these affordable smartphones to replace the company’s Asha lineup.
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Sorry I won’t even consider an Android handset can’t download apps from Google Play store.